Coarazuphium auleri sp. n. (Carabidae: Zuphiini), a new troglobitic ground-beetle in Central-Western Brazil

Abstract

In this paper, we describe Coarazuphium auleri sp. n. Until now, the species occurred in a single limestone cave, located at Nobres municipality (state of Mato Grosso – Central-Western Brazil). The new species comprises an apterous species from the genus Coarazuphium with the complete absence of hindwings, eyes are composed of very reduced eyes-scars, depigmentation and ommatidia are not evident. We also provide an updated key for species identification of Coarazuphium from the most recently published one. We followed the criteria of IUCN and classified the species as Critically Endangered – CR, IUCN criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), since the species has a restricted geographical distribution; estimated occurrence length <100 km2; population in few locations and with a continued decline in area, extent, and quality of habitat. According to Brazilian law, the existence of a critically endangered species places the Lagoa Azul cave as one of maximum relevance.